US558814A

US558814A - Padlock

Info

Publication number: US558814A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1896-04-21
Anticipated expiration: 1913-04-21

Description

(No Model.)

0. T. HUNT.

PADLOOK.

PatentedApL-Zl, 1896.

llnrrnn STATES PATENT rrrcn.

CLARENCE T. IIUNT, OF NE? HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

PADLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 558,814, dated April 21, 1896.

Application filed February 1'7, 1896. Serial No. 579,609. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CLARENCE T. IIUNT, of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Padlocks; an d I do hereby declare the following, when taken in con nection with the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, and represent, in-

Figure 1., a face view of the lock; Fig. 2, a side view of same; Fig. 3, a face view of the lock with the cap removed; Fig. 4, a face view of the sprocket and ratchet wheels reversed from that shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a vertical central section.

This invention relates to an improvement in padlocks, and particularly to that class in which a chain is employed as the shackle, and in such, for instance, as are used for looking bicycles and for similar purposes, the ob j ect of the invention being a simple constru ction which will securely hold the chain in its engaged position, and one which cannot be picked; and it consists in a construction as hereinafter described, and particularly recited in the claims.

The lock consists of a case A and a capplate A, of any desired outline, and formed with an opening ct at its upper end near one side, and a corresponding opening I) is at the opposite end and in line with the opening a. Mounted upon a stud B in the center of the case is a sprocket-wheel C, so that when revolved its arms will extend into the line of the opening a b. Upon one side of the sprocketwheel and formed integral therewith or permanently attached thereto is a ratchet'wheel D. Also mounted in the case near the lower end upon a stud (Z are tumblers E, more or less in number, and are formed with fingers F at the upper ends which engage with the teeth of the ratchet D. Secured to the lower end of each tumbler is a spring f, which bears against the side of the case and tends to hold the fingers F of the tumblers in engagement with the ratchet and so as to prevent its rotation in one direction, yet yield to permit its being turned in the opposite direction. Also mounted upon the stud d is a fender II, which covers the lower end of the tumblers and extends outwardly'so as to partially surround the key-post G, and its outer end turns downward, forming a flange which stands parallel with the side of the case.

The chain I is secured to the case by a staple J, which is riveted to the upper edge upon the side opposite the opening a, and the opposite end of the chain is provided with a loop K. In operation the loop is inserted into the opening a and forced downward through the opening 6, the successive links of the chain engaging with the arms of the sprocket, which is permitted to revolve by the yielding of the tumblers E; The withdrawal of the chain, however, is prevented by the engagement of the tumblers with the ratchet.

lVhen it is desired to disengage the chain, a key is inserted to throw the tumblers out of engagement with the ratchet, which then permits the sprocket to be turned in the opposite direction, allowing the chain to be readily withdrawn from the case. The fender l-I not only acts as a retainer for the tumblers and a guide for the key, but also serves as a guard to prevent the lock mechanism from being tampered with through the opening 1').

In some cases it will be desirable to limit the movement of the chain through the case, and for this purpose I insert through one of the links of the chain a bolt L, to which is applied a nut M, the combined nut and bolt being larger than the opening a.

It will be understood from the foregoing that I am aware that padlocks employing a chain as a shackle are not new, and I therefore do not wish to be understood as claiming, broadly, such as my invention; but

hat I do claim is 1. In a padlock, the combination with a case formed with openings in its upper and lower edges, a chain permanently attached to the case and adapted to be inserted through the said openings, a sprocket-wheel mounted in the said case and so as to extend into line with the said openings and adapted to engage with the links of the chain therein, a ratchetwheel connected with the said sprocket, and

engagement with said ratchet, and a fender inclosing the lower end of the tumblers substantially as described.

I11 testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CLARENCE T. HUNT.

lvitnesses FRED. (J. EARLE, J. H. SHUMWAY.